Bettina Stark-Watzinger is an economist and senior leader with a career spanning finance, science management, and public policy. She brings a rare combination of private-sector banking experience, academic institution leadership, and high-level political expertise.

She began her career in finance at BHF Bank before moving into science and research management — serving as Managing Director of the House of Finance at Goethe University Frankfurt and of SAFE (Sustainable Architecture for Finance in Europe) for nearly a decade. In these roles, she shaped one of Germany's leading finance research ecosystems, bridging academia, policy, and industry.

As a Member of the German Bundestag (FDP), she served on the Finance Committee — including as its Chair — with a focus on innovation financing, giving her deep insight into how capital and policy intersect to drive growth.

Most recently, Bettina served as Federal Minister of Education and Research of Germany (2021–2024), leading national strategy on innovation, research, and technology transfer.

Today, as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Focused Energy, she applies this unique blend of financial acumen and institutional leadership to advance one of the most ambitious ventures in fusion energy.